Godolphin well placed in quest to end 20-year dry spell

GODOLPHIN has been trying to win the Melbourne Cup for 20 years and it may never have a better opportunity.

The Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum operation will have five runners in the 2016 edition, including the two favourites, Hartnell and Oceanographer.

Hartnell was no match for Winx in the Cox Plate, but several recent Melbourne Cup winners have come through a tough run in that event.

His victory in the Turnbull Stakes was nothing short of outstanding and if he is able to transfer that form to 3200 metres there is no way he will be beaten.

Oceanographer stamped himself as a genuine 2016 Melbourne Cup contender with his fast-finishing victory in the Lexus Stakes at Flemington on Saturday, when he produced simply breathtaking closing sectionals.

There is no doubt Oceanographer relishes the long Flemington straight and he will be rattling home late.

The Godolphin charge is rounded out by Qewy, Secret Number and Beautiful Romance, and all three are capable of running better races than their current odds suggest.

The Macedon Lodge team of Lloyd Williams also has multiple runners in the Melbourne Cup and it is an operation that knows exactly what it takes to win "the race that stops a nation".

Bondi Beach is the team's most fancied runner in the 2016 Melbourne Cup betting market with Ladbrokes and you have to respect the combination of Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien.

Almandin and Assign all go into the race with winning form, while Gallante is a proven performer over 3200m after taking out the Sydney Cup earlier this year.

No horse since Vintage Crop in 1993 has won the Melbourne Cup without a lead-up run in Australia and there are several horses in the 2016 field that are capable of ending this drought.

Big Orange and Wicklow Brave both bring excellent form, while there has been plenty of support for Ebor Handicap winner Heartbreak City.

You can make a case for the majority of the 2016 Melbourne Cup field and there is no doubt that it will be a fascinating race.

There is already plenty of value in the Melbourne Cup betting market, but you can ensure you can get the best price possible by taking advantage of an Odds Boost with Ladbrokes.

Why back Hartnell at $5 when you can score the odds of $6.50 with Odds Boost?